The Best Long List in the UAE 2025 is at FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai

Star Wine List’s Krister Bengtsson with Kyle Barton, William Laturnus, Gilles Guisson and Christopher Sachse of FZN by Björn Frantzén, and Gustavo Klaebisch representing Château d’Esclans. Photo by Francois van Eck.

By Rachel Fellows

Published 08-December-2025

News / United Arab Emirates

It was another hit year for Dubai’s FZN by Björn Frantzén, which took home two Gold Stars at Star Wine List of the Year UAE 2025 after its similarly impressive debut, last season.

The Best Long List in the United Arab Emirates can, once again, be found at FZN by Björn Frantzén. For the second consecutive year, the European and Japanese fusion restaurant has taken the Gold Star for the best wine list exceeding 600 references, in a category sponsored by Château d’Esclans.

“This wine list demonstrates the hallmarks of a truly world-class list,” says judge Raimonds Tomsons, who also presented the award: “clarity in structure, depth across key regions, and a precise balance between benchmark producers, mature vintages, and contemporary talent.

“The Burgundy and Bordeaux sections are exceptionally detailed, Champagne and the Northern Rhône are rigorously represented, and the international elements add range without diluting focus. The list integrates icons, rarities, and thoughtful value selections, and its scale is matched by a professional technical precision reflective of a programme built with both ambition and expertise.”

Representing Château d’Esclans, Gustavo Klaebisch, Business Development Manager for Moët Hennessy said that “over the past few years, the UAE has become a major international destination. Many renowned establishments from the South of France have opened restaurants and beach clubs in Dubai, making it a key market for our rosés de Provence.

“The future in the UAE looks exceptionally bright: continuous economic growth, new developments backed by significant investment, and an ever-strong appeal for families, expatriates, and tourists alike. The UAE is a top priority for us, and we want our wines to be enjoyed in all these iconic venues.”

The Best Long List category is always hotly contested, making it an interesting choice for a rosé brand to support.

“It is always a magical moment when the sommelier brings the livre de cave and you find yourself spending long minutes carefully exploring each page,” says Gustavo. “We firmly believe that restaurants which put real care into their wine selection create a compelling reason for guests to dine with them, enhancing their experience. A broad and thoughtful list, honouring the great wine regions of the world, truly adds to the magic of the place.

“We are delighted to see our sommelier partners expanding their rosé selections, where our cuvées – Château d’Esclans, Les Clans and Garrus – help demonstrate to consumers that rosé can indeed be fine wine.”

The team from FZN by Björn Frantzén also accepted a Gold Star for the Best Sparkling Wine List – both of these are accolades retained from last year’s competition. The restaurant now goes on to compete in the Star Wine List of the Year International Final, against other Gold Stars winners from our global tour, in June 2026.

All winners in this year’s UAE competition can be located on our Gold Star map.